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Beyond Money: The Real Investments That Shape Your Life

How time, service, knowledge, and mindful spending create lasting value

First, what does it mean to invest? Many people associate investing with money, thinking of it as putting or buying a certain amount of money in a bank or a share with the exception of receiving more or less than the initial amount. However, beyond this monetary concept, the dictionary meaning of the word “invest” is “to provide or endow someone or something with (a particular quality or attribute).”

Using this definition and the input/output concept mentioned above, I considered three additional attributes or qualities that can help someone become a better person. I believe that investing in these qualities will positively distinguish you from others, fostering personal depth and a more purposeful life.

I will now discuss investing time, service, knowledge, and money, and give you some tips to get started.

Investing Time

As the saying goes, “If you value time, time will value you.” In essence, the more patient you are, the longer your benefits will last. Structuring your day to maximize productivity allows you to reap the greatest possible rewards. Building on those daily gains throughout the year will lead to a fulfilling and fruitful life.

Getting Started

• Identify your most productive time of day and schedule your most important activities accordingly.
• Practice discipline by resisting leisure activities during scheduled work periods.
• Be patient; your appreciation for time will grow.
• Prioritize your health and rest. The saying “Health before wealth” is true; your well-being is essential for achieving your goals.

Investing Service

In economics, I learned about externalities, which are the consequences of an activity. These can be either positive or negative. For example, my professor explained that a college education creates positive externalities because as more students graduate, their knowledge benefits those who couldn’t pursue higher education. This cause-and-effect chain created a positive impact on society. Similarly, volunteering, donating, and acts of service and kindness create a ripple effect in society that ultimately benefits you. Therefore, every action has consequences. To positively impact society, it is essential to cultivate empathy and dedicate time and resources to serving others.

Getting Started

• Strengthen your empathy and stay grounded in your morals
• Practice small acts of kindness daily, such as acknowledging others, holding doors, and greeting people warmly.
• Research volunteer and donation opportunities aligned with your values and passions.

Investing Knowledge

Any amount of knowledge is valuable. Use your ability to learn to educate yourself and others. As humans, we rely on each other for fulfilling lives. Educate yourself to expand your mind and to help those who lack access to education. Then, guide others, because everyone deserves an opportunity to learn.

In a world where lifelong learners and educators are often undervalued, it’s crucial to nurture your passion for learning. Don’t learn solely for the sake of accomplishment; instead, pursue subjects that pique your interest and challenge you. Whether you’re earning a degree or completing a course, focus on the knowledge gained along the way, not just the end goal.

Getting Started

• Cultivate curiosity. Don’t ignore your questions; seek out the answers.
• Explore a variety of new sources, including science, nature, and books, to stay informed about the world.
• Write down and reflect on what you learn to enhance comprehension and communication skills. This is a crucial step in sharing your knowledge with others.
• Discuss your learning with others to gain diverse perspectives.
• Invest in courses, books, and education. Participating in a course or buying a book can create a ripple effect, expanding its reach to a wider audience.

Investing Money

Money can be invested in stocks, clothing, cars, houses, education, gadgets, and more. While spending more can prove beneficial if you have the means, saving money should be the top priority. However, those with the privilege to do so should also invest in things that benefit society, such as education, donations, community initiatives, people, nature, and importantly, themselves. Giving yourself more responsible avenues for your money will foster a greater appreciation for it and income source(s), and motivate you to seek more investment and earning opportunities.

Getting Started

• Invest in your health first; it’s better to spend money on preventative care than on avoidable hospital bills.
• Invest in stocks to grow your money.
• Put money into good-quality assets.
• Be mindful of overconsumption; excessive consumerism is harmful to the planet and your wallet and mind.

Recognizing the privilege to invest is the first step. Consider your circumstances, evaluate the positives and negatives, and slowly begin investing in these categories of time, service, knowledge, and money. Moreover, when you set clear goals and commit to working towards them, you will begin to notice the opportunities and resources that can help you achieve them.

The Illusion of Falling Behind

These past few months, I felt like I was behind.

It was like I had missed some invisible deadline everyone else had met. Everyone was talking about how much they enjoyed what they were studying, what their future goals were, and what came next. Meanwhile, I was trying to figure out if I even liked the path I was on.

I had chosen finance because I thought I couldn’t do engineering, so I chose a path I thought was more practical. Heading into the first semester, I was looking forward to studying this new subject. But actually, I felt something off. I couldn’t bring myself to care about the classes. The culture was off too, it was image-heavy, surface-level, and competitive in all the wrong ways.

Some people thrive in that world, but I was starting to see that I wasn’t one of them. I didn’t want to keep scaling a structure built for someone else’s version of success.

What drew me instead were the problems. The questions. The technical, creative, and challenging mess in solving problems. My brain, it seemed, was looking for ways to quench its thirst for challenge. That part of me had always been curious, the constant question of “How does this work” has been in my mind since I was younger. So, I pivoted. I took a CS class and a math class, and for once I felt at peace because the hard stuff felt worth it. But it led me to deep introspection. I dropped business and switched into computer science. It was scary, and it came with uncertainty, but it also felt right.

Around this time, I had just finished reading the memoir Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike. Reading this book, I realized an obvious detail.

Phil was human.

Well no duh, but that matters. People look at success stories and overlook this detail. As a human, you experience life through trial and error. As a human, you fail. You doubt yourself, make mistakes, go low, go high. That’s what it means to live. But today, to be blunt, people are cowards. They avoid failure at all costs. They avoid questioning. They fear uncertainty so much that they’d rather stay somewhere miserable than try something unknown.

I don’t blame them though, because I’ve been in those shoes. This world punishes risk. It makes you feel like change means weakness. But I’d argue the opposite, that staying stuck in something you’ve outgrown is the real loss.

My mom, who often distills wisdom into simple truths, said something that stuck with me: “The grass is always greener on the other side. ” Then she paused and added, “That is an optical illusion.”

Everything in life that you don’t know about can seem better. It can seem shinier, easier, cooler. But it might be a trap. Your own experience is what matters and what will carry you. You must trust your path, even when it looks different, especially when it is different.

Going back to the theme of running and Shoe Dog, a reminder that coaches often tell their athletes is:

 “Don’t look back at others when running. It will slow you down.”

It’s true in life too. Constantly comparing yourself, and wondering who is ahead or behind you, is the fastest way to ruin your race.

Eyes forward. Stay in your lane. Go at your pace.

So, here’s what I am learning: You’re not behind. There’s no universal timeline to follow. Doubt is a sign you’re thinking, growing, evolving. Also, polished lives are often optical illusions.

“Let everyone else call your idea crazy… just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get there, and don’t give much thought to where ‘there’ is. Whatever comes, just don’t stop.”

• Phil Knight, Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

This quote reminds me that I don’t need all the answers yet, I only need to keep going.